Read Online Pure Red by Danielle Joseph - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Danielle Joseph
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chance of winning the game now.” Thunder kicks the side of the bench, narrowly missing my leg. No one answers her, but no one springs to my defense either.
The ref blows the whistle and the players are back in position. Four minutes left in the game. Browns are up by seven.
“ Are you okay?” Liz taps me on the shoulder, but before I get a chance to answer, she sprints to the court. She quickly scores a shot and everyone cheers. We’re only behind by five now. Miracles can happen.
I remember the potential Graham sighting. Now I really hope it’s not him. He’s leaning against the tree, with the big guy partially blocking him. Besides, the big guy really doesn’t look like someone Graham would hang with. He has his arms crossed and a sneer on his face. I hope that sneer’s not meant for me.
“Oh, damn,” I hear someone yell. The Browns have stolen the ball and Number 12 is dribbling furiously up their side of the court. Thirty seconds left on the clock. The Reds are not going to come out alive. But wait—Thunder steals the ball, passes off to Teri. Ten seconds left on the clock, and … Teri scores. The buzzer sounds and people are cheering, but it’s the Brown team that won, 35 to 32.
I don’t want to face my team, so I walk over to the tree instead. I’m about five feet away when I get a really good glimpse of the two mystery guys. Definitely not Graham. But still I stand there, mouth gaping. I’m not sure what just happened.
Someone pushes me from behind. “Thanks for screwing up the game, Cashew.”
Ugh, it’s Thunder again. “It was only one shot.”
“Yeah, the shot that cost us the game. Stay home next time if you want to take a nap.” She pushes me again and runs off toward Beefy Dude.
“Bitch,” I say when she hits the outer edge of the court, out of earshot. I watch as she hugs the guy and high-fives Spiky Hair. Thank God, it’s not Graham. But I take one good look at his butt just to make sure.
I walk over to the side of the court to collect my bag and try not to make eye contact with anyone else. No need to tell me how much I sucked. I already know. I almost trip over Coach’s foot when I walk past the bench, which is pretty stupid considering the size of her boats.
She stops talking to Maria and turns to me. “You sure everything’s okay, Cassia?”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry. Everything’s fine,” I say to her Nikes.
She pats me on the back. “Go home and clear your mind. I want you back tomorrow for practice refreshed.”
I lower my head. “Coach, I promise I won’t space out again.” All I had to do was pass or shoot the stupid ball, but instead I totally zoned out.
“You did some good hustling out there today. Just need to keep your focus.”
I nod and take off to meet Liz over by the gate. She has her cell glued to her ear. For once I really wish she would get off the phone. I haven’t talked to her since my big screw-up exactly twelve minutes and twenty seconds ago.
“Let’s get out of here.” I tug her arm.
She gets the picture, makes a kissy sound into her phone, and hangs up. “Are you okay?” she says again.
“Yeah. Why does everyone keep asking me that?” I walk toward the crosswalk, but Liz pulls me back.
“My mom’s bringing the car around. You just seemed kind of out of it at the end.”
“So apparently I’m transparent. I know it’s stupid, but I thought I saw Graham.”
“My mom has pills for that stuff.” Liz laughs.
“This is no time for jokes. I thought the spiky-haired guy with Kate’s scary-looking boyfriend was Graham.”
Liz sticks her finger in her mouth and makes a gag noise. “You’re right. That’s no joke. And her boyfriend does kind of look like an ex-con. Don’t worry, Graham would never hang out with a toad like her.”
“How would you know?”
Her mom beeps her horn and waves. “Go to the gallery and see if he’s still there,” Liz says. “Wanna ride?”
Maybe I should walk. I need to clear my
The ref blows the whistle and the players are back in position. Four minutes left in the game. Browns are up by seven.
“ Are you okay?” Liz taps me on the shoulder, but before I get a chance to answer, she sprints to the court. She quickly scores a shot and everyone cheers. We’re only behind by five now. Miracles can happen.
I remember the potential Graham sighting. Now I really hope it’s not him. He’s leaning against the tree, with the big guy partially blocking him. Besides, the big guy really doesn’t look like someone Graham would hang with. He has his arms crossed and a sneer on his face. I hope that sneer’s not meant for me.
“Oh, damn,” I hear someone yell. The Browns have stolen the ball and Number 12 is dribbling furiously up their side of the court. Thirty seconds left on the clock. The Reds are not going to come out alive. But wait—Thunder steals the ball, passes off to Teri. Ten seconds left on the clock, and … Teri scores. The buzzer sounds and people are cheering, but it’s the Brown team that won, 35 to 32.
I don’t want to face my team, so I walk over to the tree instead. I’m about five feet away when I get a really good glimpse of the two mystery guys. Definitely not Graham. But still I stand there, mouth gaping. I’m not sure what just happened.
Someone pushes me from behind. “Thanks for screwing up the game, Cashew.”
Ugh, it’s Thunder again. “It was only one shot.”
“Yeah, the shot that cost us the game. Stay home next time if you want to take a nap.” She pushes me again and runs off toward Beefy Dude.
“Bitch,” I say when she hits the outer edge of the court, out of earshot. I watch as she hugs the guy and high-fives Spiky Hair. Thank God, it’s not Graham. But I take one good look at his butt just to make sure.
I walk over to the side of the court to collect my bag and try not to make eye contact with anyone else. No need to tell me how much I sucked. I already know. I almost trip over Coach’s foot when I walk past the bench, which is pretty stupid considering the size of her boats.
She stops talking to Maria and turns to me. “You sure everything’s okay, Cassia?”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry. Everything’s fine,” I say to her Nikes.
She pats me on the back. “Go home and clear your mind. I want you back tomorrow for practice refreshed.”
I lower my head. “Coach, I promise I won’t space out again.” All I had to do was pass or shoot the stupid ball, but instead I totally zoned out.
“You did some good hustling out there today. Just need to keep your focus.”
I nod and take off to meet Liz over by the gate. She has her cell glued to her ear. For once I really wish she would get off the phone. I haven’t talked to her since my big screw-up exactly twelve minutes and twenty seconds ago.
“Let’s get out of here.” I tug her arm.
She gets the picture, makes a kissy sound into her phone, and hangs up. “Are you okay?” she says again.
“Yeah. Why does everyone keep asking me that?” I walk toward the crosswalk, but Liz pulls me back.
“My mom’s bringing the car around. You just seemed kind of out of it at the end.”
“So apparently I’m transparent. I know it’s stupid, but I thought I saw Graham.”
“My mom has pills for that stuff.” Liz laughs.
“This is no time for jokes. I thought the spiky-haired guy with Kate’s scary-looking boyfriend was Graham.”
Liz sticks her finger in her mouth and makes a gag noise. “You’re right. That’s no joke. And her boyfriend does kind of look like an ex-con. Don’t worry, Graham would never hang out with a toad like her.”
“How would you know?”
Her mom beeps her horn and waves. “Go to the gallery and see if he’s still there,” Liz says. “Wanna ride?”
Maybe I should walk. I need to clear my
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